Integration of FAHP and GIS for Identifying Optimal Real Estate Development Sites in Tartous Governorate
Abstract
The selection of sites for construction projects is of critical importance, especially in light of rapid population growth and increasing pressure on natural resources. Therefore, it has become necessary to use Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) methods to improve decision-making. One of the well-known methods in MCDM is the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), which relies heavily on human evaluations. However, AHP has been criticized for its inability to handle uncertain or vague information, as it depends on traditional numerical evaluations. To overcome these limitations, fuzzy logic was developed, leading to the emergence of Fuzzy AHP (FAHP), which enhances decision-making flexibility and allows for effective handling of uncertain information. FAHP provides more accurate and reliable evaluations in complex decision-making contexts, better reflecting human reasoning.
This research aims to identify the best factors and criteria contributing to selecting optimal real estate development sites in Tartous Governorate, Syria, to support reconstruction efforts. The study developed a model in a Geographic Information System (GIS) environment, utilizing the FAHP method to assess the suitability of sites for real estate development. A comprehensive set of criteria was selected to determine the best locations, distributed across four main factors: accessibility factors, environmental factors, physical factors, and socio-economic factors.
The integration of FAHP with GIS improves the decision-making process in selecting real estate development sites, as GIS provides spatial data, while FAHP allows for dealing with both quantitative and qualitative data, assigning weights to the criteria, and ranking the alternatives in a way that reflects human reasoning when dealing with uncertain information.
The research produced thematic maps identifying optimal real estate development sites in Tartous Governorate, with results showing that 8.8% of the total area of Tartous is highly suitable for real estate development. This provides deep insights for effective strategic planning in land and resource management. The study highlights the effectiveness of integrating FAHP with GIS in improving site selection decisions and recommends the integration of modern technologies in urban planning to achieve sustainable development.